Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy

Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy explores whether social progress is linear and continuous, or if there are peaks and troughs along the way. It examines the contemporary struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, using examples from the USA to compare democracies around the world. The book argues that if the climate crisis is to be addressed, the rise in authoritarian thinking presents a challenge to both societal foundations and environmental sustainability. It will appeal to academics, researchers, and postgraduate students in the social sciences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy delves into the intricate interplay between social progress theory and the concept of the social contract, shedding light on the authoritarian challenge to contemporary democracy. Building upon the author's previous work, this comprehensive book explores whether social progress follows a linear and continuous upward trajectory towards human improvement or if it encounters peaks and troughs along the way. Moreover, it raises crucial questions about the compatibility of social progress with social and environmental sustainability.

The book begins by introducing the concepts of social contract theory and human social progress, long regarded as settled conditions, now ready for further examination. Each chapter delves into the contemporary struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, using examples from the United States as a foundation to discuss and compare democracies worldwide facing the pressures of rising authoritarianism, including anti-immigration, xenophobia, and anti-institutionalism. The book argues that if the urgent climate crisis is to be addressed, the rise in authoritarian thinking, driven by a focus on maintaining power and creating individual wealth, poses a significant challenge to both our societal foundations and environmental sustainability.

By highlighting and analyzing topics of critical importance to today's society, this book will appeal to a wide range of academics, researchers, and postgraduate students across the social sciences, including sociology, political science, philosophy, environmental sustainability, and development studies.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032259086